Combination brace bar and spring element



1963 w. K. RIEBEL ET AL 3,078,087

COMBINATION BRACE BAR AND SPRING ELEMENT Filed Nov. 1'7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 b- 1963 w. K. RIEBEL ET AL 3,078,087

COMBINATION BRACE BAR AND SPRING ELEMENT Filed NOV. 17, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f'zarcd'oys fi eofyzgz'ebe fl fi 4 Qifi'arrcew 3,078,087 COMBKNATION BRACE BAR AND SPRING ELEMENT William K. Riebel and Fred J. Riebel, Chicago, 111., as-

stgnors, by mesne assignments, to Kay Manufacturing Corp, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 3,704 6 Claims. (Cl. 267-110) The present invention relates to a brace bar. While other applications may prove advantageous, the primary application of the subject brace bar, lies in the furniture or bedding applications thereof, and more particularly to that type of unit which requires ruggedness and durability with an inherent low manufacturing cost.

tioned diagrammatic view illustrating the relationship be tween the end member and tubular center portion of the brace bar in the initial stage of assembly.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation illustrating partially diagrammatically the method of assembling the convoluted spring in the subject brace bar.

The present invention contemplates a combination spanner and support which is advantageously formed of three pieces, the mid-section permitting variations in length with standard end portions. In addition, the present invention relates to a pro-stressing of the convoluted spring in a manner to change the arcuate configuration thereof, and further enhance the yieldable nature of the spring and its seating characteristics. The manufacturer is enabled to manufacture the combination spring support and spanner to preselected lengths for custom styled furniture and other applications where varying sizes are required, without the attendant disadvantage of fabricating a wide variety of moulds and storing different length spanners.

With the foregoing in mind, it will become apparent that it is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved brace bar and an improved convoluted spring, which are superior to any heretofore known or disclosed in the art.

More specifically, with regard to the brace bar, it is an object of the present invention to furnish brace bar construction for use with a convoluted spring having reversely bent ends which is readily susceptible of inexpensive conversion to varying lengths by the manufacturer for custom assembly and various types of seating require ments. A related object of the present invention is to provide a brace bar or other suitable frame element for use with a convoluted spring having reversely bent end portions, which bar utilizes the strength, ruggedness, durability, and economy of tubular construction throughout.

Still another object of the present invention relates to a brace bar ofthe character contemplated in which the manufacturer requires only one standard part in the form of a pre-formed elbow member, all of the remaining parts being susceptible of development from standard stock equipment kept by the manufacturer at the job site.

The assembled brace bar with its convoluted spring reversely bent with a reentrant V at its end portion has as its general object a utilization of the inherent prestressed forces within the spring to seat and securely lock the three separate elements together.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is perspective partially exploded partially diagrammatic view illustrating an upholstery frame to which the subject brace bar and assembled convoluted spring are to be aflixed for subsequent development into a bed or other seating application such as a sofa.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the illustrative brace bar and associated convoluted spring illustrating in dotted lines the assembled relationship between the end portions of the brace bar and its central element.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the assembled brace bar shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation, partially exploded, partially broken, in enlarged scale showing the end portion of the brace bar or frame element and its intended assembled relationship with the tubular main member.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partially broken, partially sec- FIG. 7 is a top view of the same diagrammatic assembly illustrated in FIG. 6 showing in an exploded and diagrammatic manner the sequential relationship between the end portion of the brace bar and the free end of the convoluted spring.

FIG. 8 is an end view and enlarged section of the end portion of the brace bar as shown in FIG. 7 showing in dotted lines the sequential stages of upwardly curving the same to reversely bend the end of the convoluted spring with relation to the end of the brace bar.

FIG. 9 is a front elevation showing the subsequent relationship of the second end of the brace bar immediately prior to assembling the two ends with the base tubular member.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partially broken perspective view of the assembled relationship between the end of the reversely bent convoluted spring and the end of the brace bar and its related fastening portion.

In FIG. 1 it will be seen that the brace bar spring assemblies 10 are of a pre-selected length so that they can traverse the inner portion of a seating frame 11 and be secured thereto by means of nails or other fasteners which pass through the mounting tabs 12 provided at each end of the assembled brace bar 14. Thus when the manufacturer assembles the brace bar spring assembly to the frame 11, they need only be placed in position along the general pathway shown in the dotted lines in FIG. 1, and nails or other fasteners driven through the mounting holes 15 (see FIG. 3), thereby completing the assembly. The convoluted spring 16 is of the type having straight cross bars connected by edge loops alternating at opposite edges of the spring. Because the convoluted spring 16 does not exert its force against the edges of the upholstery frame 11, a lightweight assembly may be employed for the upholstery frame. The steps of nailing mounting tabs for the convoluted spring and the like are completely eliminated, and also completely eliminated are torsional stresses and unusual loads along the sides of the frame. When the completed upholstery unit is used, any load placed on the top such as sitting down quickly will be transmitted'directly into a downward force on the mounting tabs 12, as distinguished from lateral forces which might be experienced were not the subject brace bar portion 14- present to absorb such stresses. It follows as a corollary to the foregoing that the reaction to seating loads will be uniform from each of the brace bar spring assemblies inasmuch as variations in the flexibility of the seating frame 11 are not transmitted to the convoluted spring 16. The result is a piece of furniture with a quality feel and experience factor, but without the excessive costs normally associated with furniture and seatin constructions achieving an equivalent action.

Turning now to FIG. 4, it will be seen that each brace bar portion 14 of the brace bar spring assembly 10 contemplates as a principal element an elbow 20 with a reduced cylindrical coupling portion 19 which is telescopingly received by the central tube 18.

The elbow 20 is of such a configuration (see FIG. 10) that it may be formed from a single stamping of sheet metal which is reversely bent in order to form the main body portions by folding until the edges of the body portion meet at the junction 21. The mounting tab 12 is of approximately the same Width as the blank from which the entire elbow is punched. Additionally, to provide strength at the joint between the mounting tab 12 and the tubular body portion, a raised reinforcing rib 22 rounds the corner between the mounting tab 12 and the body of the elbow 26. The interior recess or groove at said corner defines a spring detent 24 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 10. As will be seen from FIG. 10, a single cross bar of the spring 16 fits within the grooved spring detent 24, with a single end cross bar 25 of the reversely bent V-shaped end extension of the spring 16 butting against the body portion of the elbow 28 and spaced at number of cross bars from the cross bar pivoted in the corner detent 24. While it will be readily apparent that additional end cross bars of the spring could abut the elbow 20, such contact would be disadvantageous and would not achieve the advanitageous action of a V-shaped reversely bent end on a prestressed convoluted spring with a brace bar assembly of the character herein employed. The V-shaped end retains its resilience and elasticity indefinitely under conditions which impart a set and destroy the spring action of an end extension having a number of cross bars abutting the fixed frame member 20.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the recessed coupling portion which is a reduced diameter end portion of the elbow 2G, is of a diameter intended for close telescoping fit with the internal diameter of the central tube 18. A central tube abutting shoulder 26 is defined at the central end of the recessed coupling portion 19. At the free end of the recessed coupling portion 19, the end is cut off at an angle which lies in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the elbow 20, and intersecting the plane of the mounting tab 12 at a locating cutoff angle 29 which exceeds the perpendicular by a small amount, the most advantageous commercial embodiment involving a locating cutoff angle of 102, or a cutoff angle 28 of 12. While slight variations from this angularity' are contemplated, and indeed a straight cutoif angle will function satisfactorily once the central tube 18 is assembled to the elbows 20 along with the convoluted spring, as will be seen in FIG. 5, the cutoff angle 28 is of such a relationship to the end of the central tube 18 that assembly by advancing the elbow 20 and the central tube 18 in alinement achieves a smooth and steady relationship between the end of the recessed coupling portion 19 and the open end of the central tube 18, thereby facilitating assembly in the manner to be described hereinafter. To achieve a satisfactory bind between the recessed coupling portion 19 and the end of the central tube 18, the length of the recessed coupling portion 19 should approximate twice the inside diameter of the central tube 18.

Further advantages of the details of construction will be appreciated as the preferred method of assembly is described. Referring to FIG. 6, it will be seen that the convoluted spring 16 with a bent end portion is first coupled at one end to a stationary assembly book 30 at a point in substantial spaced relation to the interior portion of the single end bar 25, for example about the second cross bar therefrom, and then the convoluted spring is rolled around until a similar amount thereof extends beyond the movable assembly book 31.

Thereafter the elbow 20 is moved into position as illustrated in FIG. 7 by engaging the convoluted spring detent 24 with a cross bar of the convoluted spring 16 sutficiently beyond the single end loop 25 of the convoluted spring 16 to free the V-shaped end extension from the elbow. Thereafter, as sequentially shown in FIG. 8, the central tube 18 is slipped over the recessed coupling portion 19 of the elbow 20, and the operator can then manually, by using the leverage supplied by the length of the central tube 18, invert the central tube 18 and its assembled single elbow 20 to the position shown subsequently by the phantomiines in FIG. 8. At this point the stationary book 36 firmly engages the convoluted spring 16.

Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the second elbow 20 is inserted beneath thefree other bent end of the convoluted spring 16, and inverted to the position as shown in FIG. 9 closely adjacent to the movable assembly hook 31. Prior to achieving axial alinement between the recessed coupling portion 19 and the central tube 18, the movable hook 31 advances axially to elongate and pro-stress into a tensioned condition the convoluted spring 16. Thereafter, when the force on the movable book 31 is released, the tension of the convoluted spring moves the free elbow 20 toward the fixed elbow and stationary hook 38 in such a manner that the recessed coupling portion 19 telescopes into the central tube 13 and the assembly is completed. The elbows 20 are then held firmly in position against the central tubular portion 18 by means of the pre-stress tension within the convoluted spring 16. Additionally, as will be appreciated from the stresses induced by the reversely bent end portion 25 of the convoluted spring 16 the extending lower portion of the recessed coupling portion 19 effectively bites into the interior of the central tube 18 further locking the assembly into a secure relationship. While the sub ject method has been described by utilizing a stationary book 30 and a movable hook 31, it will be appreciated that other configurations of elements for the purpose of extending the convoluted spring 16 into a pro-stressed tensioned condition may be employed. The pro-stressed tensioned convoluted spring 16 not only serves to hold the elements together, but in operation achieves advantages heretofore unattainable. One of its principal advantages is to reduce the arch of the convoluted spring which is necessarily induced by reversely bending its end portions. The result when the brace bar spring assembly 10 is used on a seating frame 11 is to have a flatter top more nearly like other upholstery, rather than the customary high-arched construction oftentimes associated with the convoluted spring of the character herein shown and described.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to the details of such embodiment. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative embodiments, usages and equivalents of the brace bar and spring, method and mechanism for assembling same as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, specification and appended claims.

We claim:

1. A brace bar and spring comprising, in combination, an elongate central tube of preselected length, a pair of elbows serving as ends to close the tube, a coupling portion of such diameter at one end of each elbow, so as to telescopingly engage the central tube, a shoulder at the end of the coupling portion proportioned to abut the central tube end thereby to limit relative telescoping movement of the coupling portion into the tube, a fastening tab at the end of the elbow opposite the coupling portion and a pre-stressed convoluted spring reversely bent at its ends around the fastening tabs and abutting its associated elbow and urging the shoulders into pressed contact with the ends of the central tube and maintaining the shoulders in such contact.

2. A brace bar and spring comprising, in combination, an elongate central tube of preselected length, a pair of elbows serving as ends to close the tube, a coupling portion at one end of each elbow to engage the central tube, an intermediate portion of the elbow between its ends, a fastening tab at the end of the elbow opposite the coupling portion and a tensioned convoluted spring having V-shaped end portions reversely bent around the fastening tabs and having an end bar abutting the intermediate portion of its associated elbow, the spring urging the coupling portions into the tube, and cooperating means on the portions and the tube limiting the movement of the portions into the tube, the spring resisting withdrawal movement of the tube from the portions.

3. A brace bar and spring comprising, in combination, an elongate central tube of preselected length, a pair of elbows serving as ends to close the tube, a coupling portion at one end of each elbow, proportioned to engage the central tube, mounting means at the end of the elbow opposite the coupling portion and lying in a plane parallel to the axis of the coupling portion and a tensioned convoluted spring reversely bent at its ends at the mounting means and abutting its associated elbow, the spring resisting separating movement of the coupling portions.

4. A brace bar and spring comprising, in combination, an elongate central tube of preselected length, a pair of elbows serving as ends to close the tube, a coupling portion of reduced diameter at one end of each elbow, a shoulder at the end of the coupling portion proportioned to abut the tube end, a curved portion of the elbow intermediate its ends, a fastening tab at the end of the elbow opposite the coupling portion and lying in a plane parallel to the axis of the coupling portion and perpendicular to the plane of the curved portion, a convoluted spring having cross bars joined by end loops and reversely bent into V-shape at its ends around and pivoted to the fastening tabs, the end cross bar only of the spring abutting the curved portion of the elbows, the end of the coupling portion of the elbows being diagonally cut at an angle which leaves the lower portion of the coupling portion end longer than the top, thereby permitting insertion of the coupling portion into the tube while out of alignment therewith.

5. In a spring structure, a fixed frame element including spaced apart end members, and a convoluted spring associated with said members and having a number of cross bars joined by edge loops alternating at opposite edges of the spring, said spring comprising a main body portion and a number of end bars at the end of the spring being bent out of the general curve of the spring and downwardly from the main body portion to form a reentrant V at said end, the V having two short arms arranged substantially at an obtuse angle with each other, the lowermost free end bar of the lower arm of the V only being pressed into frictional engagement with an end frame member, the apex of the V being in inward spaced relation to said frame member, and means pivotally mounting the cross bar at the end of the upper arm of the V on and adjacent an edge of the end frame member with both arms of the V extending downwardly from said end cross bar and from said means, the spring being prestressed to exert inward pressure on the end frame member at and through the pivotally mounted bar thereof to draw said end frame member toward the other end frame member.

6. In a spring structure, a fixed frame element including spaced apart end members, and a convoluted spring associated with said members and having a number of cross bars joined by edge loops alternating at opposite edges of the spring, a number of end bars at the end of the spring being bent out of the general curve of the spring to form a reentrant V at said end, the free end bar of the V only being pressed into frictional engagement with an end frame member, and means pivotally mounting the cross bar at the other end of the V to the end frame member, the spring being prestressed to exert inward pressure on the end frame member at and through the pivotally mounted bar thereof to draw said frame member toward the other frame member, the frame element being sectional and tubular and comprising a central cylindrical tube, the end frame members having reduced hollow cylindrical end coupling portions of the same diameter substantially as the inner diameter of the central tube and received in the respective ends of said tube, each of the coupling portions terminating in a circumferentially arranged cylindrical annular shoulder abutting against an end of the central tube and limiting the telescoping movement of the coupling portion into the tube, the spring resisting movement of the end members out of the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,096,801 Darcy May 12, 1914 2,257,633 Bank Sept. 30, 1941 2,314,361 Meutsch Mar. 23, 1943 2,378,058 Blumensaadt June 12, 1945 2,518,867 Clary Aug. 15, 1950 2,608,752 Schilling Sept. 2, 1952 2,632,482 Lincoln Mar. 24, 1953 2,860,693 Riebel Nov. 18, 1958 

1. A BRACE BAR AND SPRING COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATE CENTRAL TUBE OF PRESELECTED LENGTH, A PAIR OF ELBOWS SERVING AS ENDS TO CLOSE THE TUBE, A COUPLING PORTION OF SUCH DIAMETER AT ONE END OF EACH ELBOW, SO AS TO TELESCOPINGLY ENGAGE THE CENTRAL TUBE, A SHOULDER AT THE END OF THE COUPLING PORTION PROPORTIONED TO ABUT THE CENTRAL TUBE END THEREBY TO LIMIT RELATIVE TELESCOPING MOVEMENT OF THE COUPLING PORTION INTO THE TUBE, A FASTENING TAB AT THE END OF THE ELBOW OPPOSITE THE COUPLING PORTION AND A PRE-STRESSED CONVOLUTED SPRING REVERSELY BENT AT ITS ENDS AROUND THE FASTENING TABS AND ABUTTING ITS ASSOCIATED ELBOW AND URGING THE SHOULDERS INTO PRESSED CONTACT WITH THE ENDS OF THE CENTRAL TUBE AND MAINTAINING THE SHOULDERS IN SUCH CONTACT. 